Throughout Loguetown, every major faction turned their eyes toward the scaffold, where the Sunagakure Pirates had suddenly stepped into the spotlight.
Making a scene at Gol D. Roger's execution platform and directly engaging the entire force of Marine Headquarters seemed like a reckless move on the surface.
In reality, it was a calculated play to build immense prestige for the Sunagakure Pirates moving forward.
Without sufficient fame and strength, how could one recruit top-tier crew members?
If Shiraishi's crew successfully established their authority today, they would secure an exceptionally advantageous position in the future struggle for dominance across the Grand Line. Should emperors of the sea emerge in the coming era, Aoki Shiraishi would undoubtedly be one of them.
"Fuffuffuffu... Is the Sunagakure Pirates really using this occasion to declare the arrival of a new era?"
As a figure of the underworld, Doflamingo let out a dark smile. He knew full well that Shiraishi hadn't come to Loguetown to rescue the Pirate King; his sole purpose was to display his power and carve his name into the bedrock of the coming age.
"Still... with his attire and sword style, could he be from Wano Country?"
Aoki Shiraishi's origins remained a mystery; even the World Government had failed to uncover his true background. The most likely possibility was that he originated from a territory beyond the World Government's jurisdiction—with Wano being the prime suspect.
Gecko Moria, on the other hand, held deep admiration for the sheer nerve of Shiraishi's crew to challenge the World Government on this stage: "Kishishishi... To think the Sunagakure Pirates would choose this moment to step onto the world stage!"
The Marines were under immense pressure. Their original intent for Roger's execution had been completely derailed. Now, they not only had to defend against the Sunagakure Pirates, but also keep a watchful eye on the other pirates lurking in the crowd, worried about what moves they might make next.
No pirate crew wanted to let the Sunagakure Pirates steal all the glory at a monumental moment like this.
"I've asked what I needed to ask," Shiraishi said calmly. "Will the Navy let us leave now? How about giving me some face?"
Hearing Shiraishi's words, Garp's face turned livid, his fist erupting with destructive Haki: "You cheeky little brat!"
Hey, hey... aggravating my grandfather like this isn't very nice! Ace thought internally.
Shiraishi's calculation was precise—the commotion would inevitably spur other pirate crews into action as well.
Faced with the Sunagakure Pirates' provocation, Marine Headquarters reacted swiftly. As Ace clashed with Borsalino, a massive fist of molten rock suddenly roared down from the sky!
Great Eruption!
It was Sakazuki's signature move—an attack delivered with a high-temperature fist of magma that could burst into volcanic rock upon impact to inflict secondary damage.
In the original timeline, this very attack had slain Fire Fist Ace, felled Ivankov, pierced Jinbe, and left a permanent cross-shaped scar on Luffy's chest after merely grazing him.
Ace had a visceral reaction to that fist. With a fierce roar, his own fist ignited with scorching, high-temperature flames, expanding into a massive fiery fist that met Sakazuki's strike head-on!
BOOM!
An explosion sent sparks flying, shaking the surrounding sea. Sakazuki's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected this user of the Flame-Flame Fruit (Mera Mera no Mi) to have mastered his Logia abilities to such an advanced degree.
However, as a future Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki possessed an unshakeable resolve: "The Sunagakure Pirates... are the next threat that must be eradicated at all costs!"
"Sakazuki... what a familiar feeling," Ace muttered, clutching his chest as wild flames wrapped around his body.
On the execution platform, Gol D. Roger had already drawn his last breath. Yet for the Sunagakure Pirates, the battle was only just beginning.
"How terrifying~ Are you leaving me out already?"
As light gathered in Borsalino's hand, an arrow wrapped in spirit energy shot through the air, interrupting his light momentum. Standing far off on the deck of the Shukaku, Kikyo held her longbow, her eyes locked onto Borsalino.
"Miss Priestess... your sniping is impressive, but you don't seem very adept at close-quarters combat, do you?"
A flash of light materialized directly in front of Kikyo. But just as Borsalino flashed his signature smirk, Kikyo didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second. She brought her hand down like a blade, channeling a powerful light of spiritual power that sliced directly toward Borsalino!
Now this is getting scary... A priestess who excels at hand-to-hand combat?
Kikyo's palm strike cleaved through the ocean surface itself, sending massive waves surging into the sky. A strange smile flickered across Borsalino's lips as he reformed his body from light particles.
Yet as Kikyo lightly flicked her fingers, invisible blades of pressurized air generated by her longbow shot outward!
Infused with Haki?!
Twisting his body to dodge, Borsalino's gaze turned grave. He hadn't anticipated that a long-range priestess could be this troublesome and dangerous in close combat.
The sheer lethality Kikyo displayed left the entire battlefield shaken.
While Fleet Admiral Kong remained stationed near the execution platform, Admirals Zephyr and Sengoku moved to intercept Yachiru Unohana and Uchiha Madara.
"Let the fight begin..."
As the vice captain of the Sunagakure Pirates, Madara Uchiha unleashed dark flames behind his back, forming a colossal dragon of black fire in the sky. As it circled between heaven and earth, it roared downward at the Marine ranks below!
The black flame dragon was merely an opening move to clear out the foot soldiers. Madara's true lethal technique condensed endless black fire in midair, molding it into a towering fiery giant.
After two years of intense training, Madara had long since mastered the Dark Nine-Tails' energy within his body. Channeling the massive black flames into the form of a Susanoo, Madara looked down at the battlefield with absolute arrogance.
"This kind of power..."
Madara's dark Susanoo threw the Marines into complete disarray. The raging black flame giant wreaked havoc across the plaza, transforming Loguetown into an apocalyptic wasteland.
As one of the Marine Admirals, Sengoku immediately activated his Devil Fruit power, transforming into his golden Giant Buddha form. Radiating golden light, Sengoku swung his palms forward, releasing immense shockwaves!
When Madara saw the golden giant Buddha, a wave of genuine exhilaration washed over him. The black flames surrounding him flared even more wildly as a surging dark torrent rushed toward Sengoku.
Light and dark clashed violently across the battlefield. Meanwhile, on another section of the field, Yachiru Unohana held her Zanpakuto, gazing calmly at "Black Arm" Zephyr: "You are no match for me."
Over the years, Zephyr had gradually stepped back from the front lines to train the next generation of Marines.
Compared to Garp and Sengoku, his actual combat experience had waned, and he lacked a certain lethal edge. Because of this, Unohana concluded that Zephyr stood no chance against her.
"Pirate, you are far too arrogant!"
Hardening both hands with Haki, Zephyr showcased the legendary prowess of "Black Arm," driving a heavy fist toward her. In that split second, Unohana's Zanpakuto flashed with three lightning-fast slashes!
The strikes carried pure, lethal intent, leaving three deep wounds across Zephyr's body in an instant.
With her supreme swordsmanship, Unohana exuded the terrifying aura of a legendary sword demon. With her hair flowing loosely, she resembled a demon incarnate, her eyes fixed coldly on the injured Zephyr.
Trouble... Zephyr is really no match for her!
Zephyr's condition was far below his prime. Realizing this, Fleet Admiral Kong dropped down to the battlefield, drawing his blade to block Unohana's Zanpakuto. As the metal clashed with a sharp ring, Unohana used Shunpo to shift her position, her Zanpakuto sweeping back with overwhelming force.
"This woman... is a Supreme Great Swordsman class combatant. Even the blade in her hand is no inferior to any Supreme Grade Sword (Saijo O Wazamono)..."
From the moment Unohana drew her blade, Dracule Mihawk's eyes had been glued to her every move.
That razor-sharp killing intent, combined with a devastating swordsmanship technique infused with Haki, made the future "World's Strongest Swordsman" narrow his eyes, ready to step in at any moment.
Meanwhile, at the absolute center of the battlefield, Shiraishi held up his hands as the energy from his deep-sea gloves began to glow, creating a powerful resonance between his Ice Gem and Dragon Gem...
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